Associated PressOhio State coach Jim Tressel speaks at a luncheon sponsored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Monday in Canton. Tressel apologized to the room full of fans for the NCAA violation announced earlier this month. He asked Thursday that his suspension be increased to five games.

COLUMBUS, Ohio - There's a "what" and a "why" to Jim Tressel's NCAA violations and his punishment, the actions and the rationale / motivation / excuses.

If you didn't concern yourself with the whys when Tressel did wrong, don't concern yourself with them too much when a half-step is taken toward the right thing.

Because I didn't care that much as to why Tressel did what he did in not reporting those e-mails to his bosses; nor am I going to get caught up in any rumors about all the things that "really" happened as long as they remain hidden.

Whether he was trying to win at all costs, or he was really scared for his players, or he was trying to protect the program in his mind, or whether he has a terrible memory when it comes to e-mails, Tressel did wrong. Whether you are outraged, just disappointed or you still love him no matter what, it's hard to argue that he did wrong. Ohio State admitted it and Tressel admitted it, though he had a hard time apologizing for it.

Now, this has happened. Tressel will be gone for at least five games. The NCAA still could give him more games, or assess other penalties to Ohio State, in the form of vacated wins or sanctions for the future affecting recruiting or bowl games. I think the five games for Tressel has a good chance to stand when the NCAA finally rules, though additional penalties in those other areas are very possible.

Tennessee basketball coach Bruce Pearl was suspended for eight games by the SEC after he lied to the NCAA, which was 26 percent of his regular season and 50 percent of his conference season. Tressel is now at five games before the NCAA announces its verdict, which is 42 percent of his regular season but only 13 percent of his conference season. You can argue which penalty is more severe, but at least it's a discussion now.

Frankly, Ohio State should have made this Tressel's self-imposed penalty from the start. It hurts their cause that it took this long to stiffen what seemed absurdly light last Tuesday. But better late than never.

None of us can get inside the heads of the people involved in these violations, though we've all spent a lot of time trying, beginning with why the six players involved sold memorabilia or took discounted tattoos in the first place.

Helping their families? Really didn't know the rules? Just trying to make a quick buck? They know, we don't.

Doesn't matter. You can't do that stuff. It's an NCAA violation.

Tressel's reasoning for not revealing the e-mails, which he didn't present very well at the initial conference last Tuesday? Doesn't matter. You can't do that stuff. It's an NCAA violation.

Tressel's reasoning for asking for this addition to his suspension? Let's not make too much of him asking for it, turning the rightfully punished into some kind of self-sacrificing hero.

But the why doesn't matter. You have to do that stuff. In this specific moment, it's the right thing to do.

A friend and I always had this argument in college, thinking about a doctor who trained his or her whole life, became one of the best in the field and saved lives on a daily basis.

What if that doctor's motivation was to make the world a better place and help families in the greatest way possible, by saving the lives of their loved ones? Or what if that doctor's motivation came more from a God complex, from a desire to use his or her talents to make as much money as possible and feed his or her own ego, with the help they provided only a secondary bonus?

I didn't care about the motivation. Judge people by their actions.

Tressel did wrong at the start. And last night, though ill-timed at 8:30 p.m. in the middle of the NCAA Tournament, was a tiny little bit of right.

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